Hundreds of thousands of people started the ChhathPuja on Wednesday. The celebrations are on while keeping in mind Delhi Government’s directives of not congregating at banks of Yamuna river in view of Covid-19 pandemic.
The main puja wil be perfomed by men and fasting women on 20 November at dusk and on 21 November at dawn to the Sun God.
It’s an ancient Hindu Vedic festival historically native to the Indian subcontinent. It is observed with great fervour especially in Bihar, Jharkhand and Uttar Pradesh and the Madhesh region of
Nepal. The worship is dedicated to Surya and Shashthidevi (Chhathi Maiya) and is meant to thank them for bestowing the bounties of life on earth.
This four-day festival is observed by people of Bihar and Nepalese wherever they are living in the world. It involves one of the harshest fasting rituals by women for the well being of all in the family and good fortune.
Richa Singh of Ghaziabad, located near Delhi, said: “Even though I am aware fasting is not being advised by doctors amid Covid-pandemic, it is the Chhathi Mayiwhich will give us strength. Even though I have some health problems, every year it’s the deep faith in the powers of Sun God and Chhathi Mayi that offers me the power to observe it successfully. The chill of the water doesn’t deter any one of us. It’s about faith and not medical science.”
Delhi Government Bans Community Puja
Delhi Government has banned community Chhath Puja celebrations at banks to curb the spread of the novel coronavirus pandemic, the city’s Health Minister Satyendar Jain said last Thursday.
The Delhi Disaster Management Authority(DDMA) has also directed to ensure that Chhath Puja this year is not performed at public places, river banks and temples in Delhi due to surging Covid-19 cases in the capital city.
Meanwhile, many netizens took to Twitter to express their sentiments on this special day:
https://twitter.com/ANI/status/1328970442598612994
A lot of people took to Twitter to express their outrage over Hindu festivals facing restrictions by the Arvind Kejriwal-led Delhi government.
https://twitter.com/ippatel/status/1328978039489740800
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